u.s. government do to avoid a catastrophe? >>> dire warning. 26 days left until the deadline and a top official says the president is willing to go off the fiscal cliff if necessary. and some republicans signal they may be ready to give in on a key sticking point. >>> and heading home, a smiling duchess of cambridge and prince william leave the hospital this morning, four days after she checked in with extreme morning sickness. we're live in london today, thursday, december 6th, 2012. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with matt lauer and savannah gurthrie live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >>> and good morning, welcome to "today" on a thursday morning, i'm savannah gurthrie. >> and i'm matt lauer. nice images to see out of london over the past couple of days. we've been watching duchess of cambridge. she seemed a little shaky as she held the railing. we're going to have more on that story and, of course, the ridiculous prank played out by the deejays later on. >> good job